Blog Posts

Milwaukee: A city to move to…and stay!

8/13/2024

Milwaukee ranked as one of the best cities for college students and graduates

By: Allie Shane, Communications Specialist

College and the years that follow is an exciting yet stressful period for young adults. Not only do students face the decision of picking a school that is affordable and offers their desired programs, but they must also consider the location of the school and the opportunities that the location provides during instruction and following graduation.

Milwaukee’s business community is fueled in large part by the talent of students and graduates of nearby schools. This makes the city an attractive option for prospective students and young professionals. In fact, Forbes ranked Milwaukee fifth on a list of the best cities for college students and graduates in 2024. This ranking is based on a variety of factors including the cost of housing, transportation and food, as well as the quality and proximity of educational institutions.

Kapur: The sky's the limit

8/8/2024

By: Hailey Pitcher, MMAC Communications Intern

Ramesh Kapur remembers pumping water outside his family’s one-room home every morning as a child in New Delhi, India. By age 13, he was determined to provide a better life for himself and his family. That meant leaving India and immigrating to the United States, something he immediately began working toward.

Over one quarter of U.S. entrepreneurs are immigrants, and Harvard Business Review says their businesses are more likely to thrive as they create job opportunities and revive areas with new ideas. The resilience and unique skill sets often acquired by those immigrating to a new country are a huge asset to communities and the economy, and their businesses bring in billions of dollars.

This series highlights Milwaukee businesses that are founded, owned and operated by immigrants. We’ve had the privilege of hearing their stories and backgrounds, as well as what makes them so valuable to our community.

Q&A with Congresswoman Gwen Moore

8/5/2024

The MMAC Town Hall series presents MMAC members and newsmakers with the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversation. This month we would like to spotlight Congresswoman Gwen Moore. MMAC will provide future participants with the opportunity to take part in similar Q&As. MMAC is a nonpartisan, nonpolitical organization. The following has been edited for length.

Q: In April, President Joe Biden announced Milwaukee will be one of the newest Investing in America Workforce Hubs, expanding access to jobs in the area through federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure bill. How do you see this hub transforming the Milwaukee economy? When can we expect to see training begin for workers in this area?

A: All investments made in federal legislation enacted over the past four years, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction Act, are critical to Milwaukee’s success. A long-time priority of mine has been ensuring that our area is ready and able to take advantage of those investments – including clean energy investments, construction and infrastructure. But perhaps most pressing is our need to address the clear danger presented by lead pipes. I want every child – no matter their zip code – to grow up in a healthy, safe environment. Both the Bipartisan Infrastructure law and Inflation Reduction Act include dedicated funding for lead pipe removal and provisions to help impacted communities benefit not only from lead pipe removal, but from the jobs created.

TopLine Results Corporation: The Entrepreneur Spirit

7/31/2024

By: Hailey Pitcher, MMAC Communications Intern

Fred Varin’s first time visiting the United States consisted of 65 days on a Greyhound bus traveling over 10,000 miles, seeing everything from New York to Vancouver, Los Angeles, Key West and Washington D.C. He would be back two years later to get his MBA at the University of South Carolina, which led to him staying in the U.S. and eventually starting his own business.

This series highlights Milwaukee businesses that are founded, owned and operated by immigrants. We’ve had the privilege of hearing their stories and backgrounds, as well as what makes them so valuable to our community.

The Commodore is Officially Open

7/31/2024

A new Bartolotta Restaurant location
By: Allie Shane, Communications Specialist

Last week The Bartolotta Restaurants opened The Commodore in the heart of Lake Country. Developed on a historic 122-year-old property, this restaurant and event destination overlooks Nagawicka Lake. Guests can enjoy fine dining and hospitality while soaking up the wonderful lake views.

“We are excited to unveil this two-year project and bring this iconic property back to life,” said Bartolotta Restaurants owner and co-founder Chef Paul Bartolotta.

DesignsTouch Receives UpCity 2024 National Excellence Award

7/30/2024

By: Allie Shane, Communications Specialist

Wisconsin-based DesignsTouch, a full-service creative digital and IT solutions provider, was recently named by UpCity as a 2024 National Excellence Award winner.

“Receiving the UpCity 2024 National Excellence Award is a tremendous honor for our team. It validates our hard work and dedication to ensuring our clients receive the best possible service. This award highlights our commitment to excellence and motivates us to continue pushing the boundaries in digital innovation,” said DesignsTouch CEO Nim Joshi.

Wisconsin’s Claim to 1904 Olympic Fame

7/30/2024

Remembering track athlete, George Coleman Poage
By: Allie Shane, Communications Specialist

With the 2024 Paris Olympic Games underway, individuals from around the globe are tuning in to watch the world’s most talented athletes compete for a chance at taking home a medal. From breaking records to fighting for equal representation, the Olympic Games have a long and complex history. 1904 was a monumental year for the franchise. Not only was this the first Olympic Games hosted by the United States, but it was the year Wisconsin resident George Coleman Poage became the first African American to receive an Olympic medal.

Poage did not immediately receive the recognition that he deserved. In fact, it was not until around 30 years after Poage passed away that his achievements were properly recognized. MMAC sponsored Poage’s induction into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998. The city of Lacrosse has also dedicated a sculpture and local park in celebration of Poage’s achievements.

Employee Spotlight: Angel Ramirez

7/29/2024

A veteran that continues to serve others
By: Allie Shane, Communications Specialist

Last month, over 500,000 people flocked to Milwaukee’s lakefront to enjoy Summerfest, a world-renowned music festival. However, MMAC executive assistant Angel Ramirez did not attend to listen to the musicians, instead she dedicated her time to working the Veterans Community Project (VCP) fundraising table.

Founded by a group of combat veterans in 2016, this nonprofit organization provides homeless veterans, regardless of discharge status, with housing and resources intended to set them up for success. Using Kansas City, Missouri as the model, the VCP founders created two solutions to help stop veteran homelessness. The first are VCP Villages. These communities of tiny homes serve as a comfortable and safe transition from homelessness to permanent housing. VCP also runs an outreach center. The center provides veterans with a variety of services such as financial counseling, clothing resources, assistance with VA benefits and employment support.

News from Washington

7/24/2024

Baldwin meets with MMAC board members for Q&A

The news out of Washington is moving at a breakneck pace. On the heels of unprecedented events surrounding the 2024 presidential election, Wisconsin’s senior Sen. Tammy Baldwin joined the MMAC Board of Directors to talk about the issues impacting our region.

Baldwin addressed this weekend’s change at the top of the Democratic presidential ticket.

“I think we first should reflect on the lifetime of commitment to this country,” Baldwin said of President Joe Biden, ticking off legislation he had a hand in as a U.S. senator, vice president and then president. “I think what he did (Sunday) was extremely patriotic.”

Creating Possibilities

7/24/2024

Ambrosia Events founder and owner shares his story

By Hailey Pitcher, MMAC Communications Intern

Oscar Sanchez has felt like an entrepreneur ever since he was 11, when he would purchase candy and resell it at his middle school in Mexico. He still never expected to found an event-planning business in the United States, much less be the owner of four other businesses.

Sanchez is the founder and owner of Ambrosia Events, an event-planning company for weddings, corporate events and other gatherings of all sizes around the Milwaukee area. The company provides flowers, décor, lighting, linens, furniture and more.

A fresh start

7/24/2024

Sen. Ron Johnson showcases successes of Joseph Project

With few exceptions, downtown Milwaukee was all politics last week during the Republican National Convention.

One of those exceptions was a panel discussion held at the MMAC offices by Sen. Ron Johnson.

Johnson’s event featured alumni of the Joseph Project – a faith-based jobs initiative started as a constituent service by Johnson in which participants take part in a week-long life skills training program and then offered the opportunity to interview with companies looking to hire. As a manufacturer, Johnson said his sector is in dire need of talent.

Great pitch!

7/16/2024

MMAC, M7 and others promote SE Wis. to visiting ambassadors

Baseball may be the great American pastime, but the diamond at American Family Field had a true international feel Tuesday morning.

M7, MMAC, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and gener8tor hosted dozens of ambassadors from around the globe, along with corporate leaders from around the region, for breakfast and a program focused on the benefits of corporate investment in southeastern Wisconsin.

While the state is proud of its history of agriculture and continued strength in the sector, preconceived notions of Wisconsin as a vast farm field were quickly dispelled.

Establishing Empathy in Manufacturing

7/15/2024

Milwaukee-Based Empathic Engineering Revolutionizes Workplace Communication
By: Allie Shane, Communications Specialist

Emily Honor Hubbard is a Spanish-bilingual mechanical engineer and coach dedicated to helping other engineers understand each other. With a background of research on empathy development and several international engineering roles, including Ford Motor Company in Mexico, she refined skills in cross-cultural communication to empower teams worldwide. Now, she shares her insights by integrating experience-based learning to optimize communication in manufacturing.

In a recent discussion with the Founder of Empathic Engineering, Emily Honor Hubbard shared the pivotal role of cultural understanding and collaboration in saving United States and Mexico manufacturers valuable time and thousands of dollars.

Laying the Foundation
Before graduating from California Polytechnic State University with a degree in mechanical engineering, Hubbard performed an independent study on the development of empathy in engineering students. During a 10-week rehabilitation engineering course, she observed an increase in empathy from engineering students based on its five constructs: affective response, affective mentalizing, self-other awareness, emotional regulation and perspective taking.

“I love being able to consider the constructs because we empathize so often. We go through this process [the five constructs] and if we don’t give ourselves time to go through the whole process, it gets cut short,” commented Hubbard.

A win for Milwaukee business - City ordinance rescinded

7/8/2024

At a time when business owners around Milwaukee are intent on increasing security staffing, a recently passed city ordinance presented an unnecessary, financially burdensome hurdle - until this week.

On Monday, the city of Milwaukee rescinded an ordinance that required licensure of security personnel. Those requiring a license included on-site employees, contractors or employees of a third-party security firm.

All-In Milwaukee announces scholarship in honor of Cathy Jacobson

7/2/2024

During MMAC’s May board meeting, Senior Advisor Tim Sheehy announced scholarships honoring Cathy Jacobson, President and CEO of Froedtert and former MMAC board chair, in light of her recent retirement announcement. The scholarships will be received by two aspiring nursing students through All-In Milwaukee, a college completion program for local students.

“We sincerely thought this was a great way to recognize not only your commitment to the organization, but your commitment to healthcare and this community,” said Sheehy.

Wangard Partners Announced as Finalist in National Apartment Association Rankings

7/2/2024

Remaining true to its commitment to “build for communities, with communities,” Wauwatosa-based Wangard Partners’ creation and management of Class-A multifamily properties received well-deserved recognition in the National Apartment Association Rankings.

Each year, the National Apartment Association highlights trends and performance in the multifamily real estate industry. Wangard Partners sets itself apart by delivering innovative ideas, quality work and customer satisfaction, earning the firm a finalist position in this year’s rankings.

Combining Soft Skills with Innovative Technology

7/2/2024

CodeBaby Avatars Bring a Unique Twist to the Ongoing AI Conversation

CodeBaby, a Milwaukee-based producer of AI-powered virtual assistants, is transforming the way humans interact with technology. Rooted in human connection and personalization, CodeBaby creates virtual solutions that integrate into a client’s website with just one line of code.

CodeBaby: An Overview
The creation of CodeBaby’s advanced solutions is marked by many years of dedication to the idea that genuine conversation is achievable between humans and virtual assistants.

In 2012, CEO and founder Norrie Daroga partnered with Mark Stephen Meadows, the author of “I, Avatar” to explore the capabilities of virtual service avatars. The two gained access to IBM Watson in 2015 and started Idavatars, becoming one of the first 100 companies to commercialize IBM’s platform. Idavatars produced virtual health assistants.

In 2016, Idavatars acquired CodeBaby, a company founded by two Canadian doctors looking to create animated training courses and materials. Merging the two companies allowed Daroga to utilize the proprietary tools from CodeBaby and apply them to Idavatar’s platform.

Transforming Play, One School at a Time

7/2/2024

Have you ever played the octopus game? The rules are simple. One player wears a plastic hoop with pool noodles around their waist and becomes the “octopus.” The octopus tries to tag others using the pool noodles. Tagged players walk like crabs until they receive a high-five from another crab. Once high-fived, they may rejoin the game.

Following an afternoon visit to Humboldt Park Public School, it’s clear that there’s no shortage of activities to participate in during recess. Whether it’s basketball, soccer, four square or this creative octopus game, Playworks staff members ensure that recess is a time reserved for safe physical activity, socialization, laughter, and most importantly: play.

Playworks Wisconsin: An Overview
Playworks was founded in 1996 in Oakland, California and expanded its operations to Wisconsin in 2012. The nonprofit organization seeks to improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

Insulation Technologies: From underdog to building performance CEO

7/2/2024

By Hailey Pitcher, MMAC Communications Intern

Over one quarter of U.S. entrepreneurs are immigrants, and Harvard Business Review says their businesses are more likely to thrive as they create job opportunities and revive areas with new ideas. The resilience and unique skill sets often acquired by those immigrating to a new country are a huge asset to communities and the economy, and their businesses bring in billions of dollars. This series highlights Milwaukee businesses that are founded, owned and operated by immigrants. We’ve had the privilege of hearing their stories and backgrounds, as well as what makes them so valuable to our community.

Jaime Hurtado emigrated from Lima, Peru, at age 16 and finished English classes within six weeks before starting college. He now owns a contracting company, but arrived with no experience in construction, instead learning on the job.

Listening to the heartland

6/21/2024

Sec. of Commerce provides forum for area business leaders

U.S. Sec. of the Commerce Gina Raimondo joined about a dozen area business leaders, as well as Gov. Tony Evers, on Friday to get their input on things going well, and also the challenges they’re facing.

“I’ve been making an effort to get around the country, to do exactly this,” she said during the hour-long event held at Northwestern Mutual and hosted by President Tim Gerand. “To visit communities and find out what is going well, and where we can do better.”

Raimondo said everything she does as secretary is to “improve the competitiveness of the U.S., improve our ability to compete and, frankly, outcompete the rest of the world.”

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